King Maker

Outcast and hunted, they seek justice. Will what they discover along the way bring them to the thrown of the five kingdoms, or destroy them?

Blood stained page

14

MAR/15

[A sygil is carefully drawn at the top of the page denoting the mark of Urian – an orb with two halfs, the left half having rays extending outward, as if it were the suns light]

Its been some time since I last wrote. The village of Vellenshore holds many mysteries, though they may have to wait for a time. The mayor .. elusive. The church was violated and the priest strung up. There were signs of a struggle but no time to properly research or even bury the body. The signs piled up as I watched the sun slowly pass through the sky above. The villagers at first appeared grim and fearful, watching from their windows. At the lunch counter the stares were cold and.. unnerving. A casual conversation with the innkeeper about the church and our purpose led to an attack. The innkeeper and the patrons within showed signs of vampirism. The summoner (need to make better effort to remember his name) and I fled to the doorway yearning for the welcome arms of the sunlight. Instead we were greeted by splinters and fangs as what must have been a werebeast crashed into us. Urian be praised the werebeasts intent was the vampires, for it threw us into the street outside. Some minutes later I entered the inn again to see nothing but gore, and the werebeast in the back corner. I approached, attempting to communicate, only to be greeted with a low growl. Bad idea, back away and find the others. The others were fleeing something else from the center of town, with a dragon with them! A white dragon! I have never before seen one, it is the most beautiful of creatures. It is sad really, the few times I’ve had opportunity to speak with it, all it can say is that it has spent over 100 years in captivity. I could not imagine spending my entire life in captivity.. oh how terrible that must be!

We fled the village, probably the smartest thing we’ve done. I let the others talk me into it, even though I had a burning desire to find and destroy what must have been many others afflicted with the vampirism. The werebeast is another mystery that should be investigated, but to do so alone would be a certain death. After traveling the rest of the day about dusk we found an abandoned ruin, probably some temple from ages past. I had not heard any stories of temples in this area and did not recognize any of the ruins, artwork, or artifacts. The party headed into the ruins to prepare a camp while Sar and I prayed outside to the rising moon. It was refreshing to get in contact with Urian after spending the day among vampires and werebeasts. After the prayer ended, I stood up and looked around, wondering where the others had gone to when a lightning bolt struck the ground not a few feet from me. From the spot appeared what I can only describe as a celestial being sent as a messenger directly from Urian! I was in awe and rewarded at the sight and the gesture. To think that my path will be directed so closely by Urian’s will is inspiring. The messenger told of witches in the marshes to the west, of the great import of the missing children from the village, and of the war waged by the dark lord. The vampires and werebeasts are but a part of the war, but a piece we must take part in. Balance must be restored, else the werebeasts will be utterly destroyed and the vampires will roam unchecked among the countryside, no doubt turning unsuspecting village after village. I have heard of several dark lords, but this could only be Orcus. His name sends shivers down my spine. I am not sure if the others are aware of Orcus and his past deeds. The books write many tales of his deeds, and dark indeed they are. Let us pray the witches can provide some assistance in locating these children, for our own efforts have so far been futile.